Ban sepeda saya kempis tadi pagi.

My bicycle tire was flat this morning.

Breakdown of Ban sepeda saya kempis tadi pagi.

• adalah: to be
• saya: my
• tadi pagi: this morning
• ban sepeda: the bicycle tire
• kempis: flat

Questions & Answers about Ban sepeda saya kempis tadi pagi.

Where is the verb “was”? Why is there no “to be” in the sentence?

Indonesian usually drops “to be.” Adjectives can serve directly as the predicate. So kempis functions like “is/was flat.” The past time is indicated by the time phrase tadi pagi (“this morning/earlier this morning”), not by changing the adjective. That’s why Ban sepeda saya kempis tadi pagi means “My bicycle tire was flat this morning.”

Is kempis an adjective or a verb?

It’s primarily a stative adjective meaning “flat/deflated.” In Indonesian, such adjectives can function like verbs in sentences (no “to be” needed). If you want the action “to deflate/deflate,” use the verb mengempis (intransitive) or mengempiskan (transitive, “deflate something”).

How do I say “went flat” (a change happened) rather than just “was flat”?

Use an intransitive verb or a change-of-state cue:

• Tadi pagi ban sepeda saya mengempis. (My bicycle tire deflated this morning.)
• Tadi pagi ban sepeda saya jadi kempis. (…became flat.)
• Add adverbs for suddenness: tiba-tiba, mendadak (e.g., Tiba-tiba ban sepeda saya kempis.)

Should it be kempis or kempes?

Both are understood. In everyday speech, many Indonesians say kempes (e.g., ban kempes). Dictionaries also list kempis, and you will hear it too. You won’t be misunderstood with either, but for tires, kempes is extremely common in casual conversation.

What’s the difference between kempis, bocor, and pecah for tires?

• kempis/kempes: flat/deflated (the state; may or may not imply a puncture).
• bocor: leaking/punctured (cause); e.g., Ban saya bocor = I’ve got a puncture.
• pecah: burst/blown out; e.g., Ban saya pecah = My tire blew out. Colloquial: gembos also means “deflated/flat.”

Can I put the time phrase somewhere else? Is word order flexible?

Yes. All are fine:

• Tadi pagi, ban sepeda saya kempis.
• Ban sepeda saya kempis tadi pagi.
• Ban sepeda saya tadi pagi kempis. Placing the time at the beginning or end is most common.

Is there any difference between tadi pagi and pagi tadi?

They’re effectively the same (“earlier this morning”), with tadi pagi more common. Use whichever feels natural; both are standard.

How is tadi pagi different from pagi ini?

• tadi pagi = earlier this morning (used later in the day to refer back).
• pagi ini = this morning (often used while it’s still morning). So in the afternoon/evening, you’d typically say tadi pagi, not pagi ini.

Why ban and not roda?

• ban = the tire (the rubber part).
• roda = the wheel (the whole wheel assembly).
  For a flat tire, you need ban: Ban sepeda saya kempis.

Indonesian doesn’t mark plural. How do I show whether one or both tires were flat?

• Ambiguous/general: Ban sepeda saya kempis.
• One of them: Salah satu ban sepeda saya kempis.
• The front/back tire: Ban depan/belakang sepeda saya kempis.
• Both tires: Kedua ban sepeda saya kempis.

Is the possessive structure ban sepeda saya the normal way to say “my bicycle tire”?

Yes. Head noun + modifier + possessor is normal: ban (head) + sepeda (modifier “bicycle”) + saya (possessor). You can also say:

• Ban sepedaku kempis (using the enclitic -ku, informal/neutral).
• Ban sepeda aku kempis (informal, with separate aku).
  All are natural; saya is safest and neutral.

Should I add adalah (like “is”) in this sentence?

No. Adalah is used mainly in equative noun–noun sentences (X is Y). With adjectives like kempis, you don’t use adalah. So don’t say: ✗ Ban sepeda saya adalah kempis.

Do I need itu to mean “the tire”?

Not required. Possession often implies definiteness already. Ban sepeda saya kempis is fine. Adding itu can add emphasis/contrast: Ban sepeda saya itu kempis tadi pagi (“that bicycle tire of mine was flat…”).

How do I negate it (“wasn’t flat”)?

Use tidak before the adjective: Ban sepeda saya tidak kempis tadi pagi.

Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?

• ban: “bahn” (short a as in “father”).
• sepeda: sə-PEH-dah (first e is schwa, second like “eh”).
• saya: SAH-yah.
• kempis/kempes: kəm-PEES / kəm-PESS (first e is schwa).
• tadi: TAH-dee.
• pagi: PAH-gee.
  Indonesian vowels are pure; “g” is always hard.

If it were a motorcycle or a car tire, how would I say it?

• Motorcycle: Ban motor saya kempis tadi pagi. (or ban sepeda motor…)
• Car: Ban mobil saya kempis tadi pagi.